Perry Township police charge man with rape after finding missing juvenile from IllinoisCanton Repository(This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy and add new information.) ‒ A 23-year-old township man was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with rape after authorities say they found him with a 14-year-old girl who was reported missing from Zeigler The suspect is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with the girl on Tuesday at a motel in Plain Township He is also charged with interference with custody Township police said they responded to a home in the 300 block of Westland Avenue NW to assist the Zeigler Police Department with a welfare check in an attempt to locate the missing juvenile The juvenile wasn't at the residence but the individual's belongings were Zeigler police wrote in a social media post that the girl was able to contact a relative who relayed information to authorities and they were able to identify the vehicle they were traveling in Perry Township police later located the juvenile with the adult during a traffic stop The man was booked into the Stark County Jail "I believe the suspect knew the jig was up as he appeared to be en route to the Police Department when police located them," the Zeigler police said "The Zeigler Police Department is grateful for the exemplary efforts of Central Dispatch of West Franklin County and (especially) the Perry Township Police Department." Zeigler police had asked for the public's help in locating her The case remains under investigation and no further details were available Perry Township police said in a news release which can only mean one thing — it's almost time to dress your child up for trick-or-treating According to information from each individual city and township listed below these are the dates and times for trick-or-treating across the area: If your city is missing from this list, email courtney.shaw@wews.com with the information Real estate transfers: Agricultural land sells for $1.78 million in Perry TownshipMassillon IndependentVacant, agricultural land in Perry Township has sold for $1.78 million, according to the latest real estate transfers filed with the Stark County Auditor's Office The nearly 99-acre property south of Faircrest Street SW and west of Kropf Avenue SW was purchased by Faircrest Street Holdings LLC from the TimkenSteel Corp Tissot Vicki E & Christopher J from Alspach Carol Carson Lindy K & Matthew S from Spuhler Greig L & Sherry L Checca Rocky L & Tiffany F from Kassir Mohamad & Jayna Griffin Madison Ann & Miles Russell from Francosky Deborah K Hovnanian at Heritage Park LLC from A List Land Development LLC Keller Erin from Skeriotis Karen S & John Trustees Schlemmer Brian & Jennifer L from Karge Mark A & Zheng Huiwen Teter Christopher S Trustee from Keszeg Luella M Simon Brian S & Marita K from Higgins Mary A Trustee / Stanely D Higgi Boney Ryan & Amanda from Howell Gerald & Catherine M East Blue Estates LLC from Fame City Properties LLC Hunter Larry L II from Brack Leisha Sherrell Velez Durham Michele E from Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio Waffle House Inc from Nine Tiger Cre Partners LLC Faircrest Street Holdings LLC from Timkensteel Corporation Hardwick Dax Micah & Bell Maggie Erin from Pramuka Joseph Mercer Seth from A M Properties and Associates LLC Ramos Britney N Quintero & Bety & Carlos from Wuebker Skylar P Sexton Mark A Jr & Kristene from Knotts Patricia J Smith Angelo N from Hutton Daniel & Christine J Tormasi Joshua & Erica R from Rodrigues John & Sonia Budrow Carla J from Myers Linda M & Budrow Carla J Cross Country Mortgage LLC from Hoven Terri Danielle Franks David Scott & Stephanie Ann from Simmons Larry D & Robyn United Estate Solutions LLC from Angstadt Robert Jr & Lori Drivers who use the State Route 45 Bypass around Salem may have to slow down during the Wednesday morning commute because of a crash The Ohio Department of Transportation reported an accident at around 7 a.m ODOT says drivers can expect lane closures in both directions of Route 45 at Georgetown Road in Perry Township As the salaries for police officers continue to increase so do the salaries of local department chiefs Here's how much police chiefs at suburban Franklin County departments make annually The city of Bexley pays Police Chief Gary D who has been in the position since September 2022 according to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's 2024 salary survey Clinton Township pays Clinton Township Police Chief Michael H who has been with the department since 1996 and chief since 2014 Franklin Township Police Chief Byron Smith is paid $124,093 annually The city pays Police Chief Jeffrey Spence $160,326 annually chief of the Grandview Heights Division of Police Grove City Police Chief Eric Scott's annual salary is $153,462 GroveportThe southeast suburb pays Casey Adams who has lead the division since August 2021 Madison TownshipVic Boyd was sworn in as the Madison Township Police Department's interim chief Oct He is paid an annual salary of $118,210.61 who started with the department as a patrol officer in 1989 Perry TownshipThe township pays Perry Township Police Chief Steve Cesaro $115,046.80 annually Reynoldsburg Police Chief Curtis Baker is paid $156,769 annually The west side suburb pays Upper Arlington Police Chief Keith Hall an annual salary of $159,890 who has lead the division since August 2019 chief for the Whitehall Division of Police who was hired in November as the chief of the Worthington Division of Police Marcella Perry (1907-1999) was a talented dancer before a career in banking Perry lived in Timbergrove from 1958 to 1986 In 1973 she became Houston’s first female commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority and politically active for much of her life Perry would give neighbors and kids silver dollars every Christmas Email notifications are only sent once a day there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Here's how the game unfolded through our live updates Saturday afternoon The Perry Panthers have reached the OHSAA Division II State Tournament Luke Wolf adds a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds Preston Dazey chips in 8 points and 9 rebounds Perry High School basketball reaction: Final four-bound Perry adds a chapter to Stark County's hopping hoop history at 'The JAR' Luke Wolf just had an uncontested layup off a blocked shot at the other to give Perry a 51-41 lead over Shaker Heights with just 1:15 to go The Panthers are closing in on a trip to the state tournament Preston Dazey just made a 3 from the corner and followed up with a blocked shot on the other end Perry leads Shaker Heights 47-38 with just 1:58 to play Jacobsen just made a layup to help the Panthers maintain the lead Perry holds a 44-38 lead over Shaker Heights with 2:57 to play Perry leads Shaker Heights 40-34 with 5:25 to play Luke Jacbosen has a team-high 13 points for the Panthers Perry maintains lead early in fourth quarterThe Panthers lead Shaker Heights 40-33 with 5:43 left to play Perry went on an 11-0 run near the end of the third quarter to help the Panthers take a 38-31 lead going into the fourth quarter The run coincided with Jacire Eaddy picking up an early third four for Shaker Heights and being moved to the bench Darnell McLeod and Luke Wolf have scored 10 points apiece for the Panthers Perry surges ahead to grab leadPerry has taken a 32-29 lead over Shaker Heights with three minutes left in the third quarter Jacobsen and a layup by Luke Wolf helped Perry take the lead Shaker Heights leads Perry 29-25 with 4:47 to here in the third quarter Both teams are getting set to take the floor for the start of the second half The Raiders will begin the third quarter with possession Mek Black helps give Shaker Heights a halftime leadMek Black scored 11 points in the first half to help Shaker Heights to a 25-22 lead over Perry at the break Drake Jacobsen has a team-high 10 points for Perry Preston Dazey and Darnell McLeod have contributed 4 points each for the Panthers Perry and Shaker Heights tied in second quarterPerry and Shaker Heights are tied 20-20 with 2:54 to go in the first half Drake Jacobsen has a team-high 7 points for Perry The Panthers have gone on a 4-1 run to start the second quarter and just tied the game on a drive to the basket by Drake Jacobsen Jacobsen will have the chance to give Perry the lead with a free throw attempt to follow after the timeout Shaker Heights 15 with 6:30 to go in the half Shaker Heights holds a 14-11 lead after Perry in the first quarter at Akron Mek Black has hit three 3-pointers and has nine points for Shaker Heights Darnell McLeod has been active attacking the rim for Perry and leads the Panthers with 4 points Mek Black has hit two 3-pointers early to help Shaker Heights take a 10-5 lead with 3:31 left in the first quarter Perry has taken a full timeout to try to regroup Black leads the Raiders with 6 points early Shaker Heights jumps out to early leadShaker Heights leads Perry 4-2 with 5:18 to go in the first quarter Both teams struggling to get baskets to fall early Good afternoon from the University or Akron Perry (12-13) and Shaker Heights (10-15) are both on the floor and awaiting player introductions I'll have updates right here once the actions gets underway OHSAA basketball preview: Ohio high school boys basketball: Breaking down Stark County's OHSAA regional finals Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPERRY TOWNSHIP Ohio (WOIO) - A missing juvenile from Illinois was found by Perry Township Police Wednesday afternoon According to the Perry Township Police Department their officers responded to 300 Westland Ave NW to assist the Zeigler Illinois Police Department with a welfare check in an attempt to locate a missing juvenile After the residence was checked officers did not locate the juvenile; but the juvenile belongings were found at the location Later officers conducted a traffic stop near Genoa Ave SW and the railroad tracks officers found the missing juvenile in the vehicle with an adult identified as Steven D charged with Interference with Custody (F4) No further details are available at this time – Everleigh Brumfield and her family seemed amazed Thursday by a gift given by their community one delivered with hundreds of smiles and plenty of posh and pink Everleigh, diagnosed about a week ago with an aggressive, inoperable brain tumor, took the reins for part of Thursday as the ceremonial "police chief for a day" in Perry Township She had a front-row seat for the parade in her honor which featured plenty of princesses and superheroes ambulances and a boatload of loving family We didn't imagine we'd have this kind of support," said Gina Brumfield "To see the community come together like this is unreal." Her father, the Rev. Matt Brumfield, a pastor at North Canton Chapel, said the parade led by Perry police officers, firefighters and medics from Perry Park was a welcomed gesture of kindness and will be cherished for many years "This kind of thing brings people of all walks of life together," Matt Brumfield said They sat front-and-center in their yard along Charldon Avenue SW as parade participants rolled by Many stopped to greet a sometimes shy Everleigh and her siblings Disney venture: Bolivar-area girl's 'make-a-wish' comes true with gift of camper multicolored signs were given to the Brumfield family Some read "We love you Everleigh," "You are our Sunshine" and "Princess Everleigh - We love you." Perry Township goes pink for 5-year-old Everleigh BrumfieldMatt said his daughter's favorite color is pink and she's a huge Disney fan who loves princesses "She loves Minnie Mouse and anything that are princesses and unicorns," he said The Brumfields and many parade participants wore pink shirts Perry police Det Danielle Paciorek said the chief-for-a-day program has been ongoing for more than a year and aims to be a morale boost for those ailing long-term After the parade, the Brumfield family was slated to tour the Perry Police Department, take part in a Nerf gun target practice and be treated to a lunch of Everleigh's choice, Paciorek said. On the menu was food from McDonald's the Stark County Sheriff's Office and Ohio Highway Patrol provided personnel and vehicles for the parade "(Today) was a great show of support for one of our (Perry) families and the entire community," Paciorek said Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X: @sgrazierINDE Perry Township continues legal fight with Perry Inn, seeks property improvement or closureMassillon IndependentPERRY TWP. – The township is taking another legal step with the owner of the Perry Inn in an effort to improve the property or close the business Police Chief Bryan Taylor said a consent judgment has been filed in Stark County Common Pleas Court the township filed a civil complaint against motel owner Yogesh B the township continues to work diligently through the court system to achieve our goal of either ensuring the property is brought up to an acceptable standard or ceasing operations altogether," Taylor said in a Facebook post "We remain committed to protecting the quality of life for our residents and will continue to pursue this matter to its resolution." court-approved settlement between two parties resolving a dispute without either party admitting guilt or liability Taylor couldn't be reached for comment on more information on the court filing A message left for the Perry Inn owner was not returned In October 2023, Perry Township trustees filed a civil complaint in court against the motel owner with the end goal of preventing "continued operation of the property as a public nuisance." The Perry is located at 4531 Lincoln Way E Taylor's Facebook post indicates more must be done at the motel Civil action: Perry Township officials take Perry Inn to court over continuous 'nuisance' incidents Trustee Matt Miller told The Independent the settlement involved the Perry Inn improving the condition of its property and making unspecified business changes He declined to get into specifics about the current matter The Perry Inn was built in 1958, totaling 5,738 square feet and resting on 2.31 acres, according to Stark County Auditor's Office records Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE Motorcyclist killed in two-vehicle crash in Perry TownshipCanton RepositoryPERRY TWP – A man riding a motorcycle was killed in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday night at the intersection of Tuscarawas Street West and Bordner Avenue Timothy Carpenter, 37, of Canton, was operating a 2023 Kawasaki motorcycle traveling eastbound on Tuscarawas at 9:55 p.m. when he collided with a westbound 2015 Dodge Dart driven by Chantel Buie, 24, of Canton, that was making a left turn onto Bordner, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said who was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash was pronounced dead at the scene by the Stark County Coroner's Office Fatal crash: Navarre motorcyclist dies after striking tree on the road and Belden Village Towing were on scene to assist The patrol said alcohol and drug use are not suspected to be factors in the crash It is a big summer construction season for Stark County Projects in 2024 include bridge replacements which will altogether cost an estimated $19 million "There's a lot of orange barrels out there this year," said Dave Torrence Most of this year's work focuses on roadway improvements Stark County Engineer Keith Bennett recommends driving carefully in construction zones and having patience if there are backups bridge and intersection projects planned this year in Stark: Phase one of the four-phase Perry Drive improvement project will commence this summer Work this season includes storm sewer installation and road widening on the west side of Perry Drive from 15th Street to Southway Street Traffic on that portion of the road will be reduced to southbound traffic only which will include waterline upgrades and road widening on the east side of Perry Drive traffic will be reduced to southbound traffic only north of 15th Street to Tuscarawas Street The full scope includes reconstructing the roadway and adding a center left turn lane Target completion on the entire project is September 2025 The road is one of the busiest in the area Torrence said it typically services industrial "There is a lot of traffic," Torrence said "We've paved it a couple of times as Band-Aids Perry Township Fire Station 1 is located on Perry Drive Chief Larry Sedlock said the Perry Township Fire Department has been working with the county engineer's office and he does not expect construction to cause any issues "They are assuring us that one lane will be kept open at all times for our emergency use," he said we can actually move our apparatus to another station So we have a contingency plan if necessary." Lake O'Springs intersection is one of the most hazardous in Stark County "We've had a long-standing accident problem there," Torrence said That's why the county will start on a new roundabout at the beginning of July Safety funds will cover the majority of cost A roundabout should improve safety and reduce accidents "We've done several roundabouts here in the last few years," he said we've seen a reduction in serious accidents." The project is expected to be nearly complete this year with the possibility of finishing final paving next spring 2024 ODOT projects: 11 ODOT projects planned around Stark County in 2024. See what roads are impacted 12th Street and Summerdale Avenue culvert replacements (Perry Township)A 90-day road closure is scheduled for this summer while the culverts under Summerdale Avenue NW and 12th Street NW in Perry Township are replaced The replacements are a joint project with Perry Township The roads will be closed at the culvert locations Resurfacing work will also be done on Summerdale Avenue NW during the closure The Summerdale Avenue culvert crosses Sippo Creek near 12th Street The 12th Street culvert is east of Summerdale Avenue Stark County Bridge Engineer Scott Basinger said the deteriorating culverts will be replaced with modern precast box culverts expected to last 70 to 100 years crews will be removing portions of the road and excavating about 12 feet of dirt Digioia-Suburban Excavating, LLC of North Royalton is contracted to complete the work to cost just over $1 million The majority of funding will come from an Ohio Public Works Commission loan A portion of the cost will be reimbursed by Perry Township Remaining costs will come from the motor vehicle fund Traffic will be detoured from Perry Drive NW to Jackson Avenue NW A rehabilitation is planned for the concrete arch bridge that crosses a Paris Township abandoned railroad The rehabilitation will include concrete patching of the arch spandrel walls and abutments and replacement of the bridge railing and approach guardrail Traffic on Frank Avenue NW will reopen this week after a partial closure as part of the Applegrove Street and Strip Avenue intersection project we're doing a pavement repair and even a little bit of widening there," Bennett said Crews have added turn lanes to improve the intersection and will be adding a traffic signal the last steps will be to lay the final pavement Bennett said the new traffic signals should hopefully relieve backups around the new Costco "The signal will help at the north end of Strip for people to get in and out," he said will be closed in mid-June for replacement traffic will be detoured on Werner Church Road NE and Middlebranch Avenue NE More: State Street bridge in Marlboro to close this summer for replacement. What's the detour? A project to replace the steel truss bridge that crosses the Newman Creek will go out to bid late this year The estimated $1 million project will be 80% paid for by a grant Construction is expected to begin in spring of 2025 Four outstanding county project that were carried into 2024 are nearing completion More: Pittsburg, Mount Pleasant roundabout construction delayed until spring Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of Jaylin Ashley Dunkel created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne Stark County voters turned down four township road levies but approved money for safety forces according to Tuesday's unofficial election results The unofficial results show that the road levies in Perry Lexington and Lawrence townships were defeated voters in Jackson Township and Beach City approved levies for their safety forces Meyers Lake residents overwhelmingly said "yes" to getting a tax break via a reduced road levy request In Perry Township, electors soundly defeated a five-year, 7.8-mill road levy, which would have generated $5.8 million annually for road operations. Issue 18 failed 64% to 36%, or 3,423 votes to 1,919, according to unofficial results from the Stark County Board of Elections Primary preview: A look at the March 19 tax requests for Stark County townships & villages Perry Trustee Matt Miller said the township may try again in August or November to pass an amended road measure we're disappointed this (levy) didn't pass," Miller said as the bulk of precincts were coming in Tuesday "But it was also great feedback (from our voters)." as well as the hiring of two additional road maintenance employees An estimated 100 miles of Perry roads were expected to be paved over the five years of the levy The road department presently operates on $1.2 million generated by a 1-mill levy and a 2-mill levy those taxes cost the owner of a $100,000 home nearly $46 a year The new 7.8-mill levy would have triggered the expiration of the 2-mill levy Miller is optimistic that Perry's road levy committee and trustees can work toward a remedy "We just need to find the right plan that fits our community," he said Jackson Township, Beach City voters OK levies for safety forcesVoters in Jackson Township overwhelmingly pulled the lever in favor of a replacement measure on an existing 5.75-mill levy which garners funds for police operations and protection The levy passed with nearly 67% of the vote which was good for 5,562 tallies in support compared with 2,797 votes against the measure Jackson's five-year measure — Issue 16 — is based on revenue from existing property valuations and will generate $11.3 million annually Police Chief Mark Brink said the levy pays for vehicles and equipment "We depend on this money to make our department go," said Brink as favorable results were coming in Tuesday night "It's the community's way of telling us we're doing a good job "And we feel we provide the township with quality service." The cost to a homeowner is $201 for every $100,000 in property valuation, a $75 increase, according to the Stark County Auditor's Office which was a five-year renewal of a 3-mill fire levy The levy generates $33,000 annually and costs the owner of a $100,000 home about $84 a year Meyers Lake residents gave themselves some tax relief on Tuesday by overwhelmingly approving Issue 5 Unofficial election results show the issue passed with 73% of voters in support Instead of seeking renewal of the current 5-mill road levy — first passed in 2013 and renewed in 2018 — the village asked for less money The renewal request had less millage — just 1 mill — and will generate $22,000 annually Issue 5 will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $22 a year Lawrence Township asked voters for a second time to approve new tax dollars for road operations A similar tax request was also rejected in November 1.5-mill levy for road operations and maintenance with 569 votes against it and 440 votes in support of the issue Pike Township voters said "no" to an additional five-year which saw 55% of township voters opposing it Votes against totaled 327 and 275 were in favor Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE PERRY TWP. – Perry Local Schools' Board of Education has unanimously approved a purchase agreement for the former Doctors Hosptial property will be used to construct one of three new elementary schools.  The $850,000 purchase price from owner GSRE LLC is below the appraised value an appraisal and consulting firm in Jackson Township "The Doctors Hospital property was something on our radar before it was taken offline (from the sale)," he said (Bob) Gessner and the foundation purchased it they did all the leg work to demo the building." More: 'It is still awesome.' Perry Local shrinks plan for new elementary schools More: Land swap: Perry Local working on deal for Doctors Hospital property the district's construction manager at risk was involved in the final stages of land preparation for GSRE adding they know it's ready to build on "We are getting it well under the appraised value and that's not counting all the demo and groundwork (that was done)," he said his family involvement was purely about how do we take an eyesore and do something positive with it." Bob Gessner's family formed GSRE LLC (Gessner Siblings Real Estate) specifically to purchase the former hospital according to Stark County Auditor’s Office records.  The former president of MCTV led the plan to demolish the defunct and deteriorating 193,000-square-foot facility which sits on nine acres. The building had sat empty since 2008 following a merger with the former Affinity Medical Center in Massillon The Gessner group managed the demolition and restoration with plans to sell the property The appraisal indicates GSRE spent an additional $510,000 for that work school officials and GSRE considered a land swap that would give the Watson Elementary School property across the street to GSRE in exchange for the hospital site As plans progressed and with economic changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic officials switched gears earlier this year from constructing four new elementary schools to building three Original plans called for a new school on the Watson site and then demolishing the building three schools for kindergarten through fifth grade will be built: One at the Doctors site one on the Lohr Elementary property at 5300 Richville Drive SW and the third on 40 acres of district-owned land along Southway Street SW just east of Genoa Avenue SW Both the Doctors Hospital site and the Southway location give the district ample space to expand if needed in the future The land also provides opportunities for the district to partner with Perry Township to develop parks and athletic fields 'Ready to rock and roll' on elementary schools construction projectRyan Schmit project manager for the architect firm TDA updated the Perry school board Thursday on the project.  Officials are talking with utility companies and the township to coordinate services and ensure they are ready to go when they begin site work in late summer or early fall TDA is wrapping up the final documents for the buildings and plans to put the construction project out to bid late this year "We're ready to rock and roll," Beatty said they have begun preparing for the roof replacement project at the high school slated to start when school ends "We have gone through a lengthy process of identifying the most challenging sections of the roof," he said "Some are in very good shape and some are in very bad shape." The roof project includes state funding from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The OFCC has agreed to fund 62% of the cost of the new schools The district entered the OFCC's Expedited Local Partnership Program which allows the district to receive credit for work completed on renovations or new builds when state funding is available to them voters approved a combined bond issue and permanent improvement levy The 3.9-mill bond issue will generate $58.3 million over its 35-year term. The 1.5-mill improvement levy will generate $18.9 million during the life of the bond issue Estimates put the construction cost around $72 million The design of the new elementary schools will mirror the layout of Whipple Heights Elementary School The schools will include a two-story academic wing but the footprint will be the same: About 67,000 square feet to accommodate about 550 students Schmit provided potential design drawings featuring three main themes — agriculture arts and industry — that are important to the community The Southway school will give a nod to the industrial aspect featuring rolling hills and tones and colors of harvest golds and greens.  Watson will focus on art with brighter colors and inspirations of music and art The building will feature horizontal and vertical lines mimicking the sheet music to the school's alma mater Officials hope to open the new schools in the fall of 2024 asked board members to consider replacing the aging high school and abandoning plans to build on the Southway property he helped campaign for the last bond issue in the '90s He recalled taxpayers demanding a new high school He questioned why the board did not sell the Southway property which he believes would have been a better deal for taxpayers rather than building on it Warstler also urged the board to stand on its own and not always agree with administration suggestions noting the top four administrators do not live in the district He also complained that the building committee that recommended the original plan was not consulted on changes a 1986 graduate of Perry whose father served as a principal in the district reminded Warstler that while he does not reside in the district he is a township property owner and pays taxes He also pointed out the building committee was consulted and asked months ago to take the pulse of the community to help determine the best plan "The board has the option to do whatever they want but I'm advising you as superintendent and based on the committee's work to keep moving forward." Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com Perry Township was named in honor of a handsome and dashing war hero who never set foot in it Oliver Hazard Perry won the pivotal Battle of Lake Erie over the formidable British Navy Though sandwiched between Stark County’s two most populous cities Perry Township has maintained its history and identity “I think Perry is one of the most interesting places in Stark County,” said Carey Coates first vice president of the Perry History Club Coates has been working on township history book for seven years Coates pointed out that a pioneer trail that became Lincoln Way W goes through Perry The opening of the Ohio-Erie Canal in the township in the early 1820s led to the founding of Massillon in 1828 Wales and Skinner families established Kendall “Thomas Rotch owned two ships that were involved in the Boston Tea Party,” Coates noted “There also was a major brewery in Richville.” Perry Township operated seven one-room schools The centerpiece of Perry’s history is its 1893 Genoa School at 539 Genoa Road SW The school is one of the last to be used in Stark County according to members of the Perry History Club which formed eight years ago to save and restore the building Members estimate that $33,000 has been invested to date and that an additional $52,000 is needed to compete the restoration Members hold regular fundraisers to make it happen “It’s part of our heritage,” explained Dana Vargo “If you think about the history of the United States but they never forgot that we need education.” The school is unusual in that it’s one of the few in Ohio located on a campus that’s still used is located just a few feet north of the one-room original “We’re in a very (economically) depressed area and we know there are much greater needs than ours; however we don’t want the building torn down,” said Jennie Self The club has received approval from the Ohio History Connection to request that the building be added to the National Register of Historic Places Self said that because the school was being utilized until 1954 several members of the club attended classes there when it was used as an annex the school also served as a place of worship and a Sunday school for Genoa Community Church in 1923 which became Trinity United Methodist Church Coates and fellow member Sue Johnston frequently visit schools to teach township children about the historic school and about “Johnny Appleseed.” They also have done museum lectures and presentations Self noted that club members canvassed the adjoining neighborhood for four years to acquire artifacts furniture and 50 albums of photos and printed items “We’re providing education to the community as well,” said club secretary Joan Parcell the school also will serve as exhibit space for the artifacts more popularly known as “Johnny Appleseed,” planted one of Perry’s Township’s first orchards at the turn of the 1800s Coates said the apples from the nurseries Chapman planted in Perry Township were “scrub” quality “He was an early-time promoter of bootlegging,” he said Coates said Johnny Appleseed was deeply religious and lived a life of poverty despite being a land speculator He constantly moved west as areas were settled Perry Township has mirrored the demographic changes that have taken place in much of the country The township experienced its greatest growth and development following World War II as prosperous families moved to the suburbs The 1950s saw the construction of six elementary schools marking the township’s first secondary-education facility Edison Junior High School was completed in 1962 Perry Township has a population of more than 30,000 residents It is Stark County’s third-largest township on the third Monday of every month at the Perry Police Department For more information, visit www.perryhistoryclub.org or visit them on Facebook – A section of Perry Drive SW is slated to close starting Monday for a utility work project that kicks off along intersecting railroad tracks Dustin M. Brown, public relations assistant for the Stark County Engineer's Office, said the work involves the relocation of Dominion Energy gas lines under the railroad tracks along Perry Drive between 15th Street SW and Southway Street SW The closure is expected to run through April 20 adding that it's part of an overall $4.5 million project that will include a new turning lane on Perry Drive near the rail tracks Into the homestretch: Wales Road NE work resuming in Massillon after winter hiatus An average of 9,300 motorists travel that section of Perry Drive per day according to the most recent county traffic count database the detour route for Perry Drive motorists is Tuscarawas Street W to Raff Road SW and over to Southway Street before returning to Perry Drive No traffic will be permitted through the railroad track work area The effort to redo the turning lane is to begin in May That work is to include some road widening of Perry Drive PERRY TOWNSHIP - Perry Township residents could be getting entering the future of electric energy Muskingum County is one of 52 counties across Ohio considering energy access to a new solar energy project underway "It’s environmentally friendlier for sure," Commissioner Jim Porter said. "Anytime you can save anything coming out of your pocket is a plus for me That’s why the county should be looking at it." run through the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, is a way off The goal is for solar to be up and running on a farm by May 2022 an energy consultancy working with the CCAO and local elected officials on the project As a number of rural areas are moving toward the prospect of clean energy along with the state it's become a reality for residents in rural Perry Township to harness the sun's power a field of solar panels doesn't have to be built in their backyards solar is going to make a lot of fiscal sense," Snavely said "I don't know if we could've said that 10 years ago." Perry Township has an electric aggregate option Falls Township was passed a measure for an aggregate in November but they have not yet begun offering residents the option due to pending approval from the state Perry and Guernsey counties have also signed letters of interest in the CCAO solar program Palmer Energy consults counties through the CCAO on electric aggregations which are ballot initiatives that gives residents a choice to opt in or out to have local elected officials negotiate energy costs Ohio is one of seven states that allows community choice aggregations Certain municipalities can put an aggregation on the ballot and let voters decide if they want to participate Perry Township has an electric aggregation so if commissioners move forward with the project residents using the program would be expanding solar energy use A town wouldn't have to set up a field of solar panels nearby to reap the environmental and cost benefits of solar energy solar panels could be somewhere else entirely - a draw for rural counties that may not have the means to install their own clean energy infrastructure local residents in the program wouldn't have solar power pumped into their homes Instead they would still be getting energy from a traditional energy generator nearby Certain county facilities across the state that can use solar power directly would work with the CCAO program The program would then purchase 20 to 25% of that facility's energy to produce in solar instead If commissioners decide to move forward with the project 20 to 25% of the current energy generation — like natural gas and fossil fuels — would be replaced with solar generation Snavely said. That number would be fixed rate for around 20 to 25 It's not clear yet where in Ohio the solar site will be located and what the price will be yet to consumers Snavely said it depends on the requests for proposal results from counties which should be submitted to Palmer Energy by late January The energy produced from the solar site would eliminate around 350 megawatts from the electric grid and replace it with the solar energy produced from the array "That’s when it becomes addition and subtraction to (electric) 'supply,'" he said "(People) generally aren't too excited about the solar issue because it could be overpriced That's changing due to technology," he said. "It's cool that solar energy is getting to rural areas but there will be dollars and cents savings." And the solar market is hot right now. Currently, there are nearly two-dozen solar projects underway in the state, The Columbus Dispatch reported.  There will be some challenges to get folks on board Natural gas is the cheapest it's ever been The EPA has cited some disadvantages of aggregates as a confusing process of opting in or opting out Aggregated solar energy programs often have an extra premium every month too which Snavely said could happen in the first few years of the CCAO program depending on the interest in the project Because solar panels have become so much cheaper to manufacture it's expected to become more cost-effective in the long term though A price could be locked in for consumers for a number of years The state's solar race comes during the nation's transition into a new White House administration. President-Elect Joe Biden has promised to transition the nation's primary energy source to renewable types as part his climate change plan While the prospect of future cost savings is promising Porter said it's also part of planning the long-term effects for both the environment and residents' wallets very hesitant when it comes to something new," he said “I look at everything as cost savings Estimates for what consumers will pay will become available by the end of next month PERRY TWP. − Owner Mike Misaiphon opened a new Thai restaurant, Sengchanh at 5147 Tuscarawas St in mid-January in a space that for 30 years was home to Asian Garden Misaiphon told me he named the restaurant for his wife − Sengchanh means moonlight spicy and sweet – achieving harmony in single dishes with this variety of flavors and varied cooking techniques are a part of a complete meal The fork is held in the left hand to push food onto the spoon Chopsticks are used only for Chinese-style dishes New Italian offerings: Maisano's Little Italian Kitchen opens Feb. 7 in Plain Twp. who had worked at Asian Garden for 12-plus years said customers have been very receptive to trying and enjoying the new dishes She told me she is enjoying learning about and recommending all of the Thai dishes and has been so impressed by the little things the restaurant is doing One example she cited was keeping bowls and plates warm so that food doesn't cool down sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk I ordered several items from the menu I had enjoyed on a trip to Thailand and I enjoyed dipping each piece in the house special hoisin sauce with chopped peanuts I would have enjoyed more carrot and cucumber and less vermicelli to give the rolls added crunch Options for dining out: Dieticians offer help, healthy eating options There is a spice scale with the menu − mild It’s worth remembering that the spice level to a Thai cook is not the same as an American cook The spiciness can be altered according to your preferences it was light and spicy and well seasoned with lemon grass lime juice and two large perfectly cooked shrimp There is a wide variety of dishes from which to choose including signature dishes such as lemon grass chicken Bangkok beef curry and tamarind mango duck Served with Jasmine white rice or brown rice pick from dishes ($18.95) that include garlic shrimp there’s a stir-fried section that includes such classics as beef broccoli or sweet and sour chicken with your choice of a lunch or dinner portion I ordered one of the dishes I enjoyed several times while traveling in Bangkok − a lunch portion of crazy noodles with chicken and shrimp ($13.95) at spice level two I only finished half but knew it would make a great leftover lunch once reheated eating Thai food isn’t complete without a dessert of mango and sticky rice The freshly sliced and lightly steamed mango half was served atop warm and the fact that the rice was warm under the cool mango made it even more appealing I would definitely go back and try a few more dishes Reach Bev at bshaffer@gannett.com or 330-580-8318 PERRY TWP. – "Hammer time" has a much larger meaning for Canton Drop Forge A sizable forging hammer is part of a recent $18.5 million investment SW to produce larger steel parts for aerospace Forging fit: Canton Drop Forge making room for new equipment, additional employees New deal: Canton Drop Forge in Perry agree on covenant under Ohio EPA program which includes a 60-foot deep foundation (for the hammer)," said John Silvestro vice president of sales and marketing at Canton Drop Forge adding that the device became operational in April It's the largest investment at the Canton Drop Forge facility in years The 50,000-pound hammer — standing between 50-and-60-feet — is the largest at the facility The company has about a dozen hammers at its site The size of the new machinery is unique but not uncommon for the business "There are larger hammers in the world out there but this is a pretty decent size (in the forging industry) for Ohio and the country," he said Many components of the new hammer came from a sister facility, Kropp Forge in Cicero industrial hammers are used to forge parts from alloy steel which is heated up to 2,300 degrees prior to being placed between steel dies A steam piston lifts the upper part of the die and drives it down to the bottom part of the die After the steel is hammered into the desired shape parts go into a trim press to carve the edges The public can get an up-close glimpse of the new hammer at Canton Drop Forge during an open house in June said the event marks the first time doors have been open to the public in more than 20 years entertainment and tours are part of the festivites The company started in 1903 at a building on 12th Street SE in Canton During World War II the U.S government built a new facility on Southway Street SW recruiting Canton Drop Forge to build components for aircraft and tanks The company bought the Southway facility in 1951 and continued to operate from two locations until the 1980s when the 12th Street SE plant closed More than 1,100 voters in North Canton will not see the name of their current council member on the ballot in the next city election in November the Stark County Board of Elections has approved assigning about 772 of those North Canton voters a different in-person polling location starting with the May 2 primary And the board reassigned 324 voters in Perry Township to another polling location The reason for the changes in North Canton is its city council in March approved changes in the ward boundaries so the populations of the city's four wards are more similar More:North Canton's proposed redistricting reflects growth in northeast corner of city new residential development caused the number of voters in Perry Township 4 which adjoins Massillon and Navarre to balloon to 1,386 close to the legal limit of 1,500 per precinct Also Perry Township 16 to the north had 1,230 voters So the board created a new Perry Township 20 precinct with 658 voters The board reassigned 324 voters in Perry Township 4 and 334 voters in Perry Township 16 to the new Perry Township 20 who voted at Richville United Church of Christ will now vote at Perry Baptist Church at 2425 Perry Dr The 334 voters in Perry 16 will continue to vote at Perry Baptist as before The North Canton charter requires that the city have four wards "which shall be as nearly equal in population as is practicable Each ward to be composed of contiguous and compact territory bounded by natural boundaries or street lines." the ward boundaries in place since at least 1980 were simple Ward 1 was the area north of West Maple Street and west of North Main Street Ward 2 was the area north of East Maple Street and east of North Main Street Ward 3 was the area south of East Maple Street and east of South Main Street Ward 4 was the area south of West Maple Street and west of South Main Street With construction of new allotments in the northeast part of the city Ward 2's population significantly grew to more than 12% more than the average population of 4,461 for the ward the city's director of legislative affairs The result was a greater number of people in Ward 2 were represented by one ward council member But a fewer number of people in the other wards also were represented by one ward council member That gave residents of Ward 2 disproportionately less of a voice on council in violation of the charter and the principle of "one person It's got to be even," said Council President Matthew Stroia "You can't ignore (the population disparity) forever (Even though) it's nice when it's a perfect square." the ward populations now range from 4,413 to 4,565 Young said as a result of the changes Ward 1 gained 751 residents from Ward 2 None of the current incumbent North Canton ward council members live in the affected areas the ward changes could affect whom their opponents would be if any residents of those areas run for a ward council seat in the future The changed precinct boundary lines may affect stores and restaurants seeking to place future liquor options on the ballot And elections of precinct members of the central committees of the Stark Republican and Democratic parties could also be impacted by the new precinct lines The Board of Elections eliminated the North Canton 2C precinct took the portion of 2C west of Marquardt and added it to 2A and 2D now becomes 2C That's offset by the addition of the new Perry Township 20 precinct The county will still have 273 election precincts More:Canton City Council re-aligns city wards after population shift Secrest said Canton and Massillon submitted their ward line changes in time to take effect for the May 3 primary Reach Robert at (330) 580-8327 or robert.wang@cantonrep.com Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated Brebeuf High School's plans for April 8 Central Indiana students will get to experience a rare total solar eclipse on April 8 and just about every school district in the area is taking precautions that day to keep kids safe Since the Indianapolis area is expected to receive thousands of visitors and the eclipse will reach totality right around the end of the day for many schools most school districts are canceling in-person classes that day Some are opting to hold e-learning days and others are giving students the day off altogether will be in session that day and turn the afternoon into an eclipse viewing party led by faculty with expertise in astrophysics and biology Here is a look at what Central Indiana schools are doing for that day More on the eclipse: Where you can see the total solar eclipse in Indiana, when, and how long it's visible Contact IndyStar reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @CarolineB_Indy Caroline’s reporting is made possible by Report for America and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation 90-year-old Fishers Foods is down to its last store A longtime grocery institution that had seven locations in Stark County in 2017 Fishers announced its store at 4401 Tuscarawas St The company estimates it's operated there for more than 70 years NW in Jackson Township will be its only store indicated the family reached a consensus to pull the plug on the Tuscarawas Street W store because of disappointing sales volumes He declined to say when the family reached its decision the Fulton location has a wholesale liquor license and the Tuscarawas Street W location did not And the corporate offices are based at the Fulton location Related: Fishers Foods set to close another grocery store That’s the last thing we want for the future and our employees Fishers Foods cited the dominance of national grocery chains "supply-chain issues," inflation and challenges hiring employees as contributing factors Fisher said his family is not contemplating a company sale at this time The Tuscarawas Street W location has 34 employees One is a manager and 33 are members of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 880 Fisher said he met with the store's employees Friday morning to break the news Fisher said he's in discussions with the union And he's not ready to announce what type of severance packages Nor could he say how many of the store's employees would be offered positions in Fishers' Fulton location Fisher said he's also not yet ready to announce what happens to the building and property on Tuscarawas Street W Broadview Heights-based United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 880 which says it has 20,000 members in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania issued a statement on the closure late Friday night that called the Tuscarawas Street W store a "community pillar." "It's truly unfortunate to see one of their stores close due to the current market dynamics and other challenges This decision is a reflection of the broader changes impacting the grocery industry.” The union said it met with Fishers executives Thursday to discuss the closure and impact on union members The union plans to meet with unionized Fishers employees and Fishers executives next week to "ensure that our members' interests are fully protected." The union said its 33 members at the Tuscarawas Street W store would be prioritized by seniority in determining who would be transferred to Fishers' Fulton Drive location Local 880 added that its contract with Fishers also provides for severance agreements with members who are laid off Anderson called for the public to support "this local business" and continue shopping at Fishers at its Fulton Drive location "Fisher Foods has been providing good wages They are a reputable employer," he said in the statement "Shopping at Fisher Foods is an investment in our community and in a company that values its workers." The Tuscarawas Street W store had less than 10 vehicles Friday evening in the snow-covered parking lot My family's been coming to Fishers for ever since I was a kid they're always pretty stable in the community Guidone said he once shopped at the Fishers that used to be on Harrison Road SW but shopped at the Tuscarawas Street W location the past 20 years Guidone said the Fulton location is too far away for him so he'll probably shop more at Marc's and the Giant Eagle on Raff Road SW in Canton "I'm sad the fact that it's closing because I've been a loyal customer But I can understand because they can't stay competitive with like Costco and Meijer's and all the prices," said Charlotte Tustin "So I can understand why they're closing." Tustin said she shopped at Fishers despite the prices because "we've done it over time and we're loyal to Fishers New revitalization plan for Fishers FoodsThe company indicated it's working on a yet-to-be disclosed strategy to bolster its last remaining store against the intense competition Fishers also had to reckon with the arrival of Meijer in Jackson Township in 2022 it's less able to negotiate lower prices that grocery chains with far greater size can Fishers has re-invented itself as market conditions changed and to keep up with the needs of the community," its statement said "The team at Fishers is preparing to do that again with plans in development for enhancements and expanded offerings at the Fulton location to make it something truly unique for the Canton community we are excited to unveil a unique food and beverage experience We are going back to our roots to ensure the best local shopping experience leading with quality customer service and competitive pricing." Fisher said he could not elaborate on those plans at this point "We are working diligently to ensure there's a Fishers for the future That future will look different but we plan on being here for quite some time.” The company has lasted at least four generations after Joseph E Fisher founded a grocery store at Navarre Road and Garfield Avenue SW in Canton Fishers said the store hours for the Tuscarawas Street location will be 9 a.m 22 until the company sells all existing inventory items at the store will be initially discounted 20% before they're discounted further This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page PERRY TWP. – Township officials are taking legal action against a motel they contend is a longtime public annoyance — the Perry Inn Perry Township trustees have filed a civil complaint in Stark County Common Pleas Court against the owner of motel with the end goal of preventing "continued operation of the property as a public nuisance." Aid abandoned: Rite Aid pharmacy closures hit Stark County as Perry Township location is shuttered "Perry Inn has been a longtime nuisance to our community and it is the Board of Trustees' duty to step in," said Trustee Lisa Nelligan in a prepared statement there have been hundreds of calls for assistance." According to the lawsuit, Yogesh B. Patel is the listed owner under the banner of Darpan Hotels LLC. Patel, citing his inability to speak or understand English very well, declined to comment this week when reached by The Independent The township's decision to taken court action comes after Police Chief Bryan Taylor and Det John Locy presented to the three-member Board of Trustees documentation outlining eight years of complaints regarding prostitution Perry officials are also to seek injunctive relief in court which aims to cease certain practices or operations at the motel neighboring businesses and overall community deserve better," Nelligan said The Perry Inn was built in 1958, totaling 5,738 square feet and resting on 2.31 acres, according to Stark County Auditor's office records some featuring whirlpool suites and waterbeds according to a sign posted in front of the business Jason Perry, manager of Regos Sporting Goods which is located across the street from Perry Inn said he's satisfied with the township's decision to file a lawsuit against the motel "I would not be sad if it's gone," said Perry "There are tons of police and ambulances constantly over there." overdosing at or near the business' parking lot and scouring through the dumpster have been occasional problems over the years at Regos "The worst part of my day is when I see a school bus dropping off kids over there," he said Jay Imran has been staying at the Perry Inn for the past few months He said the rates are reasonable and the cleaning service is above average But there are instances at the motel when things go sideways and you get people fighting (outside)," said Imran noting that his $250-per-week rate is affordable for he and his girlfriend "It is nice being close to stores and restaurants," said Imran noting he would not hesitate to move on if the motel shuts down Devin Perez is a month-to-month resident at the Perry Inn He said it's convenient to live there and may also relocate nearby if the Inn is forced to shut its doors "I'd just go next door or up the road if it closes," he said Perry officials said via their statement that Perry Inn is also delinquent in lodging tax payments to the township police have over the years offered suggestions to the Perry Inn to assist with on-site safety and security measures but with no success seventh- and eighth-grade “mathletes” from Southern Indiana schools competed Feb 10 in the Southwestern Indiana Regional MATHCOUNTS Competition at the University of Evansville which was sponsored by The Koch Foundation CountryMark and the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers Educational Foundation included three rounds of written questions the mathletes received a tour of the University of Evansville campus and received t-shirts commemorating the event The top eight mathletes participated in a "Jeopardy"-style competition for fun and prizes Raghaven and the four members of the Perry Heights team qualified to compete in the state competition at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute on March 9 More information on MATHCOUNTS can be found at www.mathcounts.org The restaurant business is something Tim Menches has been around his entire life From growing up with a family running restaurants He grew up in Massillon and still lives there Menches has been a staple in Green and Massillon for many years and Perry Township is the third location to open Menches said his family wasn’t really looking to expand but had talked about it “Things were going well in Massillon and the building became vacant in Perry,” Menches said “We thought it would be a good idea to open it.” The space previously was held by Two Fat Guys Barbecue Menches said the inside of the building got a total makeover and many customers often point out how much it has changed history and government at Washington High School for 17 years He said growing up he imagined some day having a restaurant of his own but it happened a little sooner than he expected “There are things about teaching I do miss,” Menches said Being the owner of a restaurant is never-ending work “Being the owner it is expected you are going to be here every day,” Menches said Being a new location has been the biggest challenge as they are still working to find their groove “There are still people that do not know we are here,” he noted Menches is known for its tasty hamburgers and the menu features 50 different varieties to choose from Some of the biggest selling hamburgers are the Glory Burger which has sautéed mushrooms and onions topped with melted Swiss cheese; the Big Mench which is a 1/2-pound burger with your choice of condiments and Big Mench sauce; and the Double is also popular which is named after Frank Menches and is a double burger with double cheese Recently the Mac and Cheese burger was added to the menu along with cabbage rolls and some additional offerings on the children’s menu the menu offers a wide variety of items such as appetizers Menches also serves breakfast daily until 4 p.m and carryout is an option for someone wanting to grab food on the go The menu at the Perry location is the same as the Massillon location the menu at the Green location is a little different “We have a wide variety and it is not like we have a small menu,” he said “We have never really gotten any bad comments about our food,” Menches said “The fact that we are a family-run business I think is important.” There are about 35 employees at the Perry location who "work very hard," Menches said Currently there are no plans for future expansion said Menches but the Perry location is considering opening earlier each day for those wishing to come in for breakfast PERRY TWP. – Canton Drop Forge is in the midst of an $18.5 million investment that will allow the facility to produce larger parts The company is adding a 50,000-pound hammer at its facility on Southway Street SW. The workforce at Canton Drop Forge should increase to 220 employees when the new machinery begins operating next year The new equipment is coming from Kropp Forge in Cicero For many years, Canton Drop Forge and Kropp Forge competed for customers. But in 2018, Park-Ohio Holdings based in Mayfield Heights east of Cleveland decided to close the Cicero factory and combine operations with Canton Drop Forge It's the largest investment at the Canton Drop Forge facility in several years who has been with Canton Drop Forge since 1988 praised the performance of company employees and cited that as a factor in placing new equipment at the local plant adding that theproject to add equipment has been a boost for employee morale Beaver Excavating is building the foundation that will support the equipment Crews dug down 40 feet to set a new base for the machinery The local office for Thrasher Engineering handled design work for the project The 50,000-pound hammer will be the largest at Canton Drop Forge Currently the company's largest hammer — of 11 operating in the factory — is 35,000 pounds The hammers are used to forge parts from alloy steel which is heated up to 2,300 degrees before being placed between steel dies parts go into a trim press to clean the edges Products made at Canton Drop Forge go to key industries Some of the company's biggest customers are in the aerospace industry structural parts and gears used in military and commercial aircraft The company also forges steel parts used in the oil and gas industry Most of the steel used by Canton Drop Forge comes from TimkenSteel's Faircrest mill "That makes this a bigger boom for the local economy," he said of plans to add the larger hammer Canton Drop Forge started in 1903 at a building on 12th Street SE in Canton the government built the facility on Southway Street SW and brought in Canton Drop Forge to make parts for aircraft and tanks The company bought the facility on Southway Street SW in 1951 and continued to operate from two locations until the 1980s when the facility on 12th Street SE was closed Canton Drop Forge is part of the engineered products business at Park-Ohio Park-Ohio reported net sales of $91 million for the engineered products division up from $90.3 million in the 2021 fourth quarter and $75.9 million in the first quarter of 2021 CANTON — Maybe a corner has been turned the McKinley High School football team at least feels a lot better about itself McKinley enters Friday’s Federal League opener at defending-champion Perry on the high of its first win — a 28-12 victory at Huber Heights Wayne last week It also was Antonio Hall’s first win as Bulldogs head coach to get that monkey off their back,” Hall said “I’m just happy for the kids.” The Bulldogs desperately needed something positive after humbling home losses to Mentor (49-7) and Austintown Fitch (42-28) They got it with a “ground and pound” plan that led to them controlling the ball the game against a good Wayne team filled with Division I college talent Stark County Football: Fantastic 5 poll, Week 4: Here come the Lake Blue Streaks “It just shows our progression and our process of getting better as a team,” Hall said against that opponent and to win that emphatically with an inexperienced team that’s a huge building block for the program.” It might have offered a glimpse at the Bulldogs’ M.O Junior Treyton Mackey ran around and through Wayne defenders for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries Senior Khris Williams added 89 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries “It’s a good 1-2 punch because Khris is a little more of a lightning runner and Trey is more of a thunder runner,” Hall said “It gives defenses two different types of runners Hall looked at his offensive line as a strength coming into the season and the big boys played like it against Wayne “Those guys stepped up to the challenge and took ownership of the game,” he said of the unit led by 6-foot-8 Stefan Monahan “We told them we were going to put it on their shoulders McKinley had to mix in some Harold Fannin through the air The Bulldogs attempted only eight passes with quarterbacks Keaton Rode and Amarion Williams All three of their completions went to the 6-foot-4 Fannin After not playing much defense in Week 2 in attempt to stay fresh Fannin was back at safety for McKinley last week “We moved him from the strong to the free to kind of clean up everything on the back end and have that bird’s-eye view of everything,” Hall said played really good coverage and cleaned up the alleys So he did exactly what he was supposed to do back there.” McKinley yielded some yards as the game went on (351 total but the defense’s performance was a major step forward after Mentor and Fitch had their way with the Pups “I just think guys are starting to settle into the scheme a little bit more I thought our contain was a little bit better I thought our blitzes were better as far as keeping guys inside and contained but we still have to continue to work on it And it seemed like our conditioning is getting better.” The Bulldogs traveled 3.5 hours to get the break-through win they needed last week they’ll drive the 10 minutes or so to Perry Township to see if they can build on it but they seem to be getting into more spread and a couple of different packages They do their job and they get to the ball.” The Panthers also enter the game 1-2 after three straight overtime games to begin the head coaching career of Zach Slates who took over for Keith Wakefield back in the spring Perry has won six of the last seven meetings with McKinley including a 35-23 win that ultimately earned the Panthers the league championship “They’re a McKinley team," Slates said "No matter if they have 70 guys or 30 guys it’s going to be the same type of players They’re going to have really athletic kids quick defensive linemen and good defensive backs “They’ve gotten better over the last three weeks I think Antonio’s doing a good job with their guys and getting them in the best position to be successful They have more guys playing both ways than they normally do PERRY—After two days of grueling competition at the 2023 Chagrin Valley Conference wrestling championships The Pirates won their second straight Chagrin Division title with 271 ½ points West Geauga was second with 196 and Edgewood finished third as a team with 158 points Cuyahoga Heights also won its second straight Metro Division title The Red Wolves scored 130 points while Independence was second with 68 and Hawken finished third with 61 Berkshire won its second Valley Division title in three seasons with 140 points Beachwood placed second as a team with 111 and Crestwood was third with 104 ½ Perry won two individual titles and had nine others finish among the top six in their respective weight classes Riley Rowan won his second straight CVC title with a 4-0 record and four pins at 120 and Chris Bezzeg became Perry’s second champion of the night when he pinned all four of his opponents at 132 pounds Also placing for Perry were Chance Schlauch (3rd Cuyahoga Heights landed seven wrestlers on the podium including Cooper Kucia (2nd and Alex Munn all won their respective weight classes Hering went 4-0 with four pins at 106 and Munn was 4-0 with a pin and three decisions at 157 Brown kept alive his undefeated season when he went 4-0 with two pins at 150 to improve to 22-0 on the season Hering previously won the 106-pound title at the 2020 CVC Valley Division championships Also placing for the Badgers were Kason Greenwood (6th Other CVC champions included West Geauga’s Zaner Joltin (113) and Brian Denamen (144) The Chagrin Valley Conference features 25 schools spanning five counties Contact us: info@chagrinvalleyconference.com © Copyright - Chagrin Valley Conference After graduating from Fairless High School Lew Gerrick did what a lot of his classmates did and found a job at a Stark County factory but in the 1970s that job paid less than the one he had at the factory So he sold cars for a while locally and in Mesa Gerrick liked the idea owning a business and being his own boss who liked talking with people and sharing stories It's 40 years later and Lew's Bar at 3238 Lincoln Way E has become a place where everybody knows your name Patrick's Day in 1978 — it fell on a Friday — in what now is the Corner Store a few doors east of the current location narrow space with a train painted on one wall Gerrick called the place Toots and people seemed to like it initially sharing the building with three other tenants Gerrick expanded and now uses the entire building "I think it's the little things," Gerrick said explaining how his bar has lasted 40 years The wait staff doesn't let a customer — especially a new face — stand or sit too long without being asked if they need help "We make folks feel welcome," Gerrick said and when the weather is warm customers can relax on a patio The prices are right and the place isn't filled with fancy stuff "I didn't want to make it fancy because it's a neighborhood bar," Gerrick said the automatic teller machine and other areas adding that the neighborhood and community have been good to them The couple appreciates the support of nearby businesses as well as township officials and agencies Local restaurateur John Shaheen has launched Char-Bar Dining Car Shaheen has customized an 18-foot trailer that is half kitchen and half counter with eight permanent stools Shaheen said the trailer has a variety of uses noting options might include using it as a coffee and doughnut shop or as a bar So far Shaheen has been getting exposure by taking the Char-Bar Dining Car to the weekly Plain Township Farmers' Market in Veterans Park He's also attended a few "street food" events because he believes in simplicity and being consistent sausage or pulled pork sandwiches as options Shaheen got his start in his family's restaurant then operated Rumours for more than 20 years He said he's getting back to cooking after being away from the business for 10 years he's been doing private parties in addition to the weekly farmers' market in Plain Township EV Energy Partners has completed financial restructuring emerged from bankruptcy and changed its name to Harvest Oil & Gas Harvest will operate as an independent oil and gas company focused on acquiring Most of its assets are in the Barnett Shale the San Juan Basin and the Appalachian Basin EnerVest created EV Energy Partners in 2006 as a way to retain long-term profitable assets instead of selling the properties EV Energy filed for bankruptcy protection in May and shed $355 million of debt and interest through the restructuring but its drilling and production company will continue to operate most of Harvest's wells is expanding its catering service to include groups and private parties set up and serve the ice cream in a dish or a cone The shop has been catering ice cream socials for local schools and businesses Just Ice Cream is open daily from noon to 9 p.m The shop serves hand-dipped and soft-serve ice cream The Stark County Safety Council will team with the local SCORE chapter for a program covering Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements for small businesses on June 21 at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce offices Cost is $10 and registration deadline is June 19 owner of Certified Safety Training in Youngstown Register by visiting www.StarkCountySafetyCouncil.org Car and truck dealers in Northeast Ohio continue to buck the national trend as sales continue to rise according to the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers Association a 3.49-percent gain from 21,388 vehicles sold in May 2017 down less than 1 percent from the 103,398 units sold during the first five months of 2017 we have an increase in sales of cars as well as trucks While the truck and sports utility vehicle market segment continues to grow at a more robust clip there seems to be a renewed interest in passenger cars The 21-county association includes dealers in Stark Reach Edd at 330-580-8484 or edd.pritchard@cantonrep.com A Stark County elementary school has been named a National Blue Ribbon School Whipple Heights Elementary School in the Perry Local School District was recognized Tuesday among 16 Ohio schools and 325 public and private schools nationwide with the prestigious award The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or its progress in closing learning gaps among student subgroups Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona made the announcement during his Return to School Road Trip “This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant and affirming school cultures where rich teaching and learning can flourish,” Cardona said “I commend all our Blue Ribbon honorees for working to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic In the face of unprecedented circumstances the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year by top education officials which enrolls 356 students in kindergarten through fourth grade and employs 32 employees was chosen for being among the state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or national tests.  Whipple Heights earned the rating “Excellent” or “Excellent with Distinction” from 2003-2011 When the state report cards moved to overall ratings in 2017-2018 Whipple earned the overall ratings of “A” in 2017- 2018 and 2018-2019.  In the school’s nomination application Principal Erica Erica Mytinger shared the variety of ways that Whipple Heights educators seek to help each child realize his or her potential and to encourage them to become responsible productive citizens and lifelong learners.   “We focus on the whole child and are here to help them grow every step of the way,” Mytinger wrote “It is an all-in approach where everyone is involved.” West Branch Elementary also was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2014.   The Ohio schools named as 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools are: Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com On Twitter: @kweirREP